Water Conservation Board donates $175K grant for flood study

The Colorado Water Conservation Board contributed a $175,000 grant to assist in studying methods of flood restoration and mitigation for two watersheds in the Pikes Peak region.

The study will begin in January and focus on the restoration and protection of the Cheyenne Creek and Upper Fountain Creek watersheds, city officials explained Wednesday in a news release. The study is anticipated to be a one-year project resulting in the creation of a master plan to guide future efforts in these areas.

“This work will assess impacts to the stream corridors and develop conceptual plans for mitigation of flooding and sedimentation, and restoration of the corridors,” according to the release.

The grant application was submitted in November via a partnership of the City of Colorado Springs, the Fountain Creek Watershed Control and the Greenway District. The study is expected to cost $437,500.

Funding streams for the project are as follows:

$175,000 grant from Colorado Water Conservation Board

$100,000 grant match by the City of Colorado Springs (via 2014 stormwater budget)

$25,000 grant match by El Paso County

$25,000 grant match by Colorado Springs Utilities

$25,000 from Fountain Creek Flood Watershed Control and the Greenway District

$87,500 from Green Mountain Falls, Woodland Park, Teller County, Manitou Springs, the Coalition for the Upper South Platte, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.

“The Master Plan will include Upper Fountain Creek from the confluence with Monument Creek to Woodland Park; and for Cheyenne Creek from its confluence with Fountain Creek to its start in Teller County,” according to the release. “Master plans are to guide communities towards prioritization and implementation of stream rehabilitation and restoration projects that protect life and property from flood hazards.”